(June 3, 2009) -- As previously flashed on LBReport.com's front page (www.lbreport.com), the CA Senate voted on June 2 by the minimum margin needed to advance SB 250 (the "Pet Responsibility Act") to the Assembly. LB-area state Senator Rod Wright (D, LB-Inglewood) voted "yes," providing the vote margin required to move the bill.
SB 250 would restrict ownership of an unsterilized dog or cat and require surgical sterilization of the animal in certain circumstances.
SB 250 failed passage on the Senate floor vote on June 1 with eight Senate Dems (including Senator Wright) not voting...effectively preventing the bill's passage by "staying off the bill."
A day later on June 2, five Senate Dems -- including Sen. Wright -- voted "yes"...producing a final tally of 21-16. The vote came after SB 250's author, Sen. Dean Florez (D., Shafter) said on the Senate floor that he would make changes to the measure that included (1) an amendment exempting hunting dogs and (2) allowing "first-time offenders, those dogs that are accidentally let out the first time, to in esence move through the process without going through the bill's process."
[LBReport.com will be adding the measure's text here as amended, expected on the state legislative website shortly.]
LBReport.com was the first LB media outlet to report the bill on March 1 and has closely followed its movement in Sacramento. On May 19, the City Council voted 7-0 (S. Lowenthal & Gabelich absent) to support SB 250 in principle. Following the June 2 Senate vote, City of LB Tom Modica told LBReport.com, "We're pleased that the bill passed out of the Senate and look forward to working on it in the Assembly."
In a mass emailing, SB 250 supporter Judy Mancuso of Social Compassion in Legislation said calls and faxes had "literally shut down Senate offices, who reported that SUPPORT calls and faxes outnumbered opposition by a ratio of 20 to 1." Her email added, "Please kiss all your dogs and cats, and tell them today is a big day for pets in California."
SB 250 is expected to face continued polarizing debate in the Assembly. Supporters of SB 250 say it differs from a spay-neuter bill (AB 1634) that stalled in the state legislature last year...but like the former bill, SB 250 has attracted a long list of supporters and opponents. LBReport.com has reproduced the Senate Local Gov't Committee-Analysis list (compiled as of April 9) below.
Support
Letters and petitions from more than 1,000 people
A Dogs Life Rescue
A New Hope Animal Foundation (Auburn)
A New Hope Animal Foundation (Loomis)
A Passion for Paws Rescue, Inc - La Jolla
AAA Animal Control
AdoptAPet.com
All Creatures Animal Caring Society
Alpha Canine Sanctuary
American Tortoise Rescue
Animal Alliance
Animal Birth Control Assistance
Animal Care Center of Indio
Animal Helpline
Animal Medical Hospital Animal Protection Rescue League
Animal Samaritan Inc.
Animal Shelter Relief Rescue
Animal Welfare Services for Atwater Village
Antioch Animal Services Volunteer
At the Very Leash
Basset Hound Rescue
Bay Area Bird Hospital
Benevolent Animal Rescue Committee, Inc.
Beth Shaw Rentals
Beverly Hills Police Department
Bichon FurKids Rescue (Dana Point)
Bichon FurKids Rescue (El Cajon)
Bichon FurKids Rescue (Foothill Ranch)
Bichon FurKids Rescue (Huntington Beach)
Bichon FurKids Rescue (Menifee)
Bichon FurKids Rescue (Mission Viejo)
Bichon FurKids Rescue (San Diego)
Bichon FurKids Rescue (Yorba Linda)
Bob Barker
Canine Canyon Ranch
Capitola Police Department
Cat Cause Foundation
Cats at the Studio
Cats In Need
Central California SPCA
Central Valley Seekers
City of Desert Hot Springs Animal Shelter
City of Encinitas Mayor Maggie Houlihan
City of Fresno
City of Hawthorne Animal Shelter
City of Hayward Shelter Volunteers
City of Huntington Beach Mayor Keith Bohr
City of Lathrop
City of Santa Rosa Councilmember Veronica Jacobi
City of Stockton
City of Vallejo
City of Vallejo Councilmember Stephanie Gomes
City of West Hollywood
Coachella Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals
Community Concern For Cats (Contra Costa County)
Community Concern for Cats (Pittsburg)
Compassion For Animals
County of Kern
County of Lake Department of Animal Care & Control
County of Placer
Delta Paws Animal Rescue
DJ&T Foundation
Dog Land - Manhattan Beach
East Bay Animal Advocates
Family and Furry Friends Rescue
Feral Cat Coalition
Foundation for the Care of Indigent Animals
Friends of Madera Animal Shelter
Furry Friends Rescue (Elk Grove)
Furry Friends Rescue (Fremont)
Genesis Digital Art Studios
Girly Things Boutique in Manhattan Beach
Happy Critters Guinea Pig Rescue
Hayward Animal Shelter
Healthy Habits Studio
Helping Out Pets Everyday (Montclair)
Helping Out Pets Everyday (Upland)
Hemet City Animal Control
Hermosa Beach Animal Control
Hits
Home at Last Animal Rescue (Berkeley)
Home at Last Animal Rescue (Corte Madera)
HOPE Animal Foundation
Husky Haven of Los Angeles
IAG Coffee Franchise, LLC
In Defense of Animals
Ingram Micro, Inc.
It's The Grind Coffee House
It's The Pits Rescue
Karma Rescue - Los Angeles
LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health Magazine
Laguna Beach Feline Rescue
Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council
Last Chance for Animals
Lawndale City Animal Control
League of Humane Voters California Chapter
Living Free Animal Sanctuary
Loving All Animals, Inc.
Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue
Muttville
Nitta Erosion Control
NorCal Boxer Rescue
North Bay Animal Advocates
North Coast Animal Welfare Advocacy Center
North Start Pet Assistance
OCPoundhounds Small Breed Rescue
Pacific Yoga and Ayurveda
PACT, Inc.
Pallas Investment Partners
Palm Desert Animal Control
Palms N Paws
Paw Parent
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Pet Rescue Center
Pet Sitters I.N.C.
Pet Welfare Proposition
Photo Research
Pilates Fit Studio
Poinsie Pets Animal Rescue
Producers Guild of America
PURRfect Partners Cat Adoptions
Ramona Animal Shelter
Re/Max Elite Team
Redlands Animal Shelter
Redondo Beach Animal Control
RESQCATS Inc.
ResQPet
Richmond Police Department
Safe Cat Foundation
SamsonPR
San Bernardino Valley Humane Society
San Diego Animal Support Foundation
San Diego House Rabbit Society
Santa Cruz County Animal Services Authority
Santa Cruz SPCA
Save A Dog Today
Scooter's Pals
Seal Beach Animal Care Center
Seaside Realty
Second Chance Animal Rescue (San Diego)
Second Chance Animal Rescue (Woodstock)
Senior Citizens For Humane Legislation and Education
Sequoia Humane Society
Shelter Animal Advocacy Fund
Soaring, LLC
Social Compassion In Legislation
South Bay Animal Shelter
South County Animal Shelter Coalition
Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue
Southland Collie Rescue
Southwest Homes and Land Turtle and Tortoise & Animal
Rescue
Stockton Animal Shelter
Stockton Police Department
Strangebird Art
Support Alliance for Stray Animals
Tails of the City Animal Rescue
Take Me Home Rescue
The Catherine Fund
The Pet Care Foundation
The Pet Rescue Center
The Uncommon Canine, Inc.
Torrance Animal Control
UCLA People Animal Connection
United Action for Animals
United Activists for Animal Rights
VCA Desert Animal Hospital
Village Cat Club of Laguna Woods
Voice for the Animals Foundation
Water Music Records
Western University Veterinarians for Spay and Neuter
WildCare
Windansea Law
Wuffington Wag
YogaFit Inc.
Yucaipa Valley Animal Placement
Opposition
Letters and petitions from more than 1,000 people
Akita Club of America, Inc.
Alaskan Malamute Club of America
Alameda County Schutzhund & Police K-9 Club
Alley Cat Allies
American Belgian Tervuren Club, Inc.
American Brittany Club, Inc.
American Herding Breed Association
American Kennel Club
American Pomeranian Club, Inc.
American Saluki Association
American Sighthound Field Association
Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc.
Anatolian Shepherd Dogs International, Inc.
Applied Backflow Technologies
Associated Rottweiler Fanciers of Northern California
ATAS Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers
Atherton Acres Boarding and Training Kennels
Bakersfield Obedience Training Club
Basset Hound Club of Southern California
Bix-L Boxers
Bizzy B Cairn Terriers
Bloodhounds West Breed Rescue, Inc., Northern Chapter
Bonita Cat Fanciers
Borzoi Club of California
Boxer Club of San Fernando Valley
Bull Terrier Club of America, Inc.
Bulldog Club of America, Div. III
Bulldog Club of Northern California, Inc.
Butte County Kennel Club, Inc.
California Airedale Terrier Club Incorporated
California Central Valley Maltese Club
California English Setter Club
California Federation of Dog Clubs
California Greyhound Coursing Association
California Outdoor Heritage Alliance
California Responsible Pet Owners' Coalition/CaRPOC
California Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc.
Canine Specialized Search Team
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Southern California
CHAKO
Channel City Kennel Club
Chow Fanciers of Southern California
Concerned Dog Owners of California
City of Angeles Pomeranian Club Inc.
City of Highland
Contra Costa County Kennel Club
Coso Dog Fanciers of California, Inc.
Dachshund Club of California
Davis Dog Training Club, Inc.
Deep Peninsula Dog Training Club
Del Arroyo 4-H Club
Del Fur Kennel Club
Doberman Pinscher Club of Northern California, Inc.
Elkhorn Plaza Veterinary Clinic
English Cocker Spaniel Club of Northern California
Feather River Dog Training Club
Franciscan Silver & Golden Fanciers
German Shepherd Dog Club of America
German Shepherd Dog Club of Los Angeles
German Shorthaired Pointer Club of San Diego
Golden Empire Brittany Club
Golden Gate Cat Club
Golden Gate English Springer Spaniel Association
Golden Gate Greater Swiss Mt. Dog Rescue
Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles
Golden State American Staffordshire Terrier Club
Great Dane Club of California
Greater San Diego Whippet Association
Grunenfeld German Shepherds
Harrier Club of America
Inland Empire English Setter Club
Inland Empire Hound Club of Southern California
Irish Terrier Club of America
Irish Terrier Club of Southern California
Irish Wolfhound Club of America, Inc.
Kansas City Dog Advocates
Kennel Club of Palm Springs
Law Offices of Janet Vining Mitchell
Los Encinos Kennel Club
Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS)
Los Angeles Doberman Pinscher Club, Inc.
Los Angeles Poodle Obedience Club, Inc.
Los Padres Obedience Club, Inc.
Maine Attraction Cat Fanciers
Maryland Dog Federation, Inc.
Mother Lode Bulldog Club of Sacramento
National English Shepherd Rescue
National Pet Alliance
National Rifle Association of America
Nerds to the Rescue
Newfoundland Club of Southern California
Nicolas Studio Inc.
Norcal Golden Retriever Club, Inc.
Norcal Golden Retriever Rescue
Nor-Cal Toy Dog Fanciers
Nor-Cal Treehound Association
Northern California Brittany Club
Northern California Bulldog Rescue
Northern California Irish Wolfhound Club
Northern California Samoyed Fanciers
Northern California Siberian Husky Club, Inc.
Northern California Terrier Association
Northern California Toy Fox Terrier Club Rescue
Northern California Whippet Fanciers Association, Inc.
Northern California Whippet Rescue Committee
Orange Coast Rhodesian Ridgeback Club
Orange Empire Dog Club, Inc.
Outdoor Sportsmen's Coalition of California
Pacific Coast Bulldog Club
PetPAC
Poodle Club of Central California
Portuguese Water Dog Club of Northern California
Professional Stewards Association of Northern California
Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs, Inc.
Sacramento Sierra Norwegian Elkhound Club, Inc.
Sacramento Valley Boxer Club
Sacramento Valley Dog Franciers
Safari Club International Foundation
Safari Club International (SCI)
Salmon Creek Ranch
Saluki Club of Greater San Francisco
San Angeles Saluki Club, Inc.
San Francisco Dog Training Club, Inc.
San Francisco Revelers
San Joaquin Kennel Club
San Lorenzo Dog Training Club, Inc.
Santa Clara Dog Training Club, Inc.
Santa Clara Valley Kennel Club
Savannah Cat Rescue
Schipperke Club of Southern California
Shetland Sheepdog Club of Northern California
Show and Sport Optimizing Animal Health Naturally
SoCal Belgian Shepherd Rescue
Somis Schutzhund Club
South Bay Kennel Club, Inc.
Southern California Alaskan Malamute Club Inc.
Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue
Southern California Schutzhund Club
Southern California Siamese Rescue
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America
Standard Schnauzer Club of Southern California
Stanislaus County Schutzhund Club
Tally Ho Dawg Walkin' Club
The Animal Council
The Borzoi Club of Northern California
The Bay Area Rhodesian Ridgeback Club
The California Sportsman's Lobby
The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.
The City of Angels Pomeranian Club, Inc.
The English Shepherd Club
The Golden Gate Shih Tzu Fanciers
The International Cat Association, Inc.
The Irish Water Spaniel Club of America
The Kennel Club of Palm Springs
The Toy Fox Terrier Club of Northern California Rescue
Tule River Houndsmen
Tonkinese Breed Association
Two Cities Kennel Club
United States Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Others
Ventura County Dog Fanciers Association
Way Out West Schutzhund Club
West Highland White Terrier Club of California
West Shore Shorthair Cat Club
Western Rottweiler Owners Club
Working Riesenschnauzer Federation
Yorkshire Terrier Club of Los Angeles
Supporters of the SB 250 (the "Pet Responsibility Act") maintain a website at www.YesonSB250.com
Opponents of SB 250 include the American Kennel Club (which announced its opposition within two days of the bill's introduction). Its website is at: www.akc.org.
